--- title: How to Choose a Headboard Cover That Fits Your Bed url: https://anycostore.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-headboard-cover description: How to measure your headboard, pick the right cover width and height, compare quilted and plush finishes, and wash a slip-on cover so it keeps its fit. audience: Shoppers refreshing a bed headboard updated: 2026-10-21 --- # How to Choose a Headboard Cover That Fits Your Bed A headboard cover slips over an existing headboard to change its colour and texture and to protect it from dust and marks. It is a quick fix for a scuffed, dated or hard headboard, and you can do it without tools or new furniture. Getting it right mostly comes down to measuring carefully. Browse the full range in our [Headboard Covers collection](https://anycostore.com/collections/headboard-covers). ## 1. Measure your headboard You need two measurements. Use a metal tape measure; a sewing tape can stretch. 1. **Width.** Measure straight across the widest part of the headboard panel, from outside edge to outside edge. If the legs or posts stick out wider than the panel, measure the panel the cover will sit on. 2. **Visible height.** Push the mattress and any topper into place, then measure from the top of the mattress to the top of the headboard. This is the part the cover has to wrap. If the bed is usually made with pillows against the headboard, measure with them out of the way. 3. **Depth (thickness).** Measure the thickness of the panel. A thin board takes a cover easily. A thick, padded headboard eats into the fabric, so the cover will feel tighter across the width. 4. **Shape.** Note anything that isn't a plain rectangle: arched or scalloped tops, wings, buttons, shelves or posts above the panel. Write the numbers down. Don't guess from the bed size, because headboards for the same mattress size can vary by 10cm or more. ## 2. Match the cover width to the headboard Choose a cover with a width as close as possible to your headboard width, and never narrower. A cover that is a few centimetres wider is fine; the elastic or fitted edges take up the slack. One that is much wider will bag at the sides. As a rough guide, Australian mattress widths are about 92cm (single), 107cm (king single), 138cm (double), 153cm (queen) and 183cm (king). Headboards are usually the same width or a bit wider. Our headboard covers come in widths of 100, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160 and 170cm, all 70cm high. Not every colour comes in every width. The widest cover in the collection is 170cm, so measure a king headboard carefully before you buy. | Your headboard width | Cover width to look for | Typical bed | |---|---|---| | Up to ~100cm | 100cm | Single, king single | | ~120–140cm | 120, 130 or 140cm | Double | | ~150–160cm | 150 or 160cm | Queen | | ~170cm | 170cm | Wide queen | | Over 170cm | Measure carefully; may not fit | King | ## 3. Check the height The covers listed here are 70cm high (for example "W150xH70cm"). If the visible part of your headboard is close to 70cm, the cover will reach down to about mattress level. If your headboard is a lot taller, the cover will sit over the top section and leave the lower part showing. If it is much shorter, the extra fabric will tuck down behind the mattress, which is usually fine. ## 4. Choose a pattern and finish All the covers in the collection are listed as quilted velvet in 100% polyester. The difference is in the stitched pattern and colour: - **Quilted patterns:** cube, diamond, criss-cross and square stitching give a padded, upholstered look. For example, the [Khaki Criss Cross cover in 160x70cm](https://anycostore.com/products/anycozy-headboard-cover-khaki-criss-cross-pattern-quilted-velvet-cover-160x70cm) and the [Pink Cube Pattern cover in 120x70cm](https://anycostore.com/products/anycozy-headboard-cover-pink-cube-pattern-quilted-velvet-cover-120x70cm). - **Square stitching:** larger blocks look more tailored, such as the [Square Coffee cover in 170x70cm](https://anycostore.com/products/anycozy-headboard-cover-square-coffee-quilted-velvet-cover-170x70cm). - **Short plush:** a softer, smoother surface, such as the [Light Gray Short Plush cover in 150x70cm](https://anycostore.com/products/anycozy-headboard-cover-light-gray-short-plush-super-soft-smooth-quilted-velvet-bed-back-3) or the [Off-White Short Plush cover in 140x70cm](https://anycostore.com/products/anycozy-headboard-cover-off-white-short-plush-quilted-velvet-cover-140x70cm). Colours in the range include light and dark grey, beige, khaki, off-white, coffee, pink and light yellow. Some practical points: - **Mid-tones hide more.** Grey, khaki and coffee show hair-product marks and dust less than off-white. - **Deep quilting hides lumps.** If your headboard has buttons or an uneven surface, a deeply stitched pattern disguises it better than a smooth plush. - **Colour varies on screens.** Product photos can look slightly different from the real fabric, so pair the cover with bedding in a forgiving shade. ## 5. Fitting the cover 1. Pull the bed a little way from the wall so you can reach behind the headboard. 2. Turn the cover the right way out and find the top seam. 3. Start at one top corner, ease it over, then work across to the other corner. 4. Pull the cover down evenly at the front and back so the quilting lines sit straight. 5. Smooth out wrinkles from the centre outwards, then push the bed back. Velvet has a pile, so make sure the cover isn't twisted. If it is, the colour will look patchy in side light. ## 6. Care and washing The listings describe these covers as machine washable. To keep the fit and pile: - Check the care label first and follow it over general advice. - Wash on a gentle cycle in cool water with a mild detergent, inside a large laundry bag if you have one. - Don't use bleach or fabric softener on velvet; softener can flatten the pile. - Line dry in the shade. Hot sun can fade dark colours, and a tumble dryer can shrink elastic. - Refit the cover while it is slightly damp. It will relax into shape as it dries. - Between washes, vacuum with an upholstery brush or use a lint roller. ## Quick checklist - [ ] Headboard width measured (panel only) - [ ] Visible height above the mattress measured - [ ] Cover width equal to or slightly wider than the headboard - [ ] Top shape is roughly rectangular - [ ] Colour and finish chosen for how much wear the bed gets ## Frequently asked questions ### What size headboard cover do I need for a queen bed? Measure the headboard itself, not the mattress. An Australian queen mattress is about 153cm wide, but headboards are usually a little wider. Choose the cover whose width is closest to your headboard's width without being narrower. ### Will a headboard cover fit a tall headboard? A slip-on cover only fits snugly if its height suits the part of the headboard above the mattress. The covers in our collection are 70cm high, so measure from the top of the mattress to the top of the headboard and compare. ### Can I put a headboard cover over a slatted or metal headboard? Yes, if the headboard is a flat panel or frame that the cover can slip down over. Ornate finials, curved tops or posts that stick up above the panel make a neat fit harder. ### How do I wash a headboard cover? Follow the care label. Wash on a gentle cycle in cool water, skip the dryer, and put the cover back on while it is slightly damp so it relaxes into shape. --- Source: https://anycostore.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-headboard-cover · Anyco Pty Ltd · support@anycostore.com